davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING.

From the shelf hang, suspended
In the flrelght's glow, distended
Till my sides are almost split with everything
that's good;
I'm SO full that it s question
If don't have indigestion
Never yet was l so stuffed with such peculiar
food.
In my toe (oh, goodness graciousi
declare it is vexatious)
Some ones put a big potato and IT makes me feel
so strange;
1wonder, now, what made them do it.
Do you know that right next to it
They have put a lot of candy-something sweeter
for a changer
Then bank to save up money,
And man that acts 30 funny
When you pull him sharply by his stringy hempen
tall
picture book some small tin fishes
And set of little dishes;
Pair of Inittens, popcorn and a little wooden pail
Then on top piece Of paber,
Isn't this funny caperf
Perhaps they want to burden me with some new
tangled dish.
Let me try my best 30 con It.
Why, this is what they We written on IL:
May yog have q merry Christmas Is my hearty
wish" Tom Mason
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
NOTICE.

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
COUNTY OF Rock ISLAND,
n the Circuit Court of Rock Island county. jan
uary term, A. D., IssS-In Chancery.
Oliver Olsen. guardian Of Emily Erickson and
Ben T. Gable VS.. Alonzo B. Alien. Frank W.
Allen. Dan ord II. Allen and Theodore L. Allen,
guardian Of the said Alonzo B Frank w., and
Danford Ii. Allen.
Affidavit Of the non-resdence Of the said Alonzo
r. a lien. Frank w. Allen. Danford Ii. Allen and
Theodore L. Allen, guardian, etc, defendants
above named, having been filed in the office of the
clerk Of said circuit court Of Rock Island county,
notice lie hereby given TO tie eaid above named
defendants, that the complainants heretofore filed
their bill Of complaint in said court on the chan
Gerry side thereof. and that summons thereupon
issued out Of said court against said defendants,
returnable at the court house In the city Of Rock
Island in said county, on the first Monday Of Jan
uary next. (1SSs), as lie by law required.
Now, unless you. the said Aionzo B. Allen,
Frank W Allen. Danford II. Aleu- and Theodore
L. Allen, guardian, &C shall personally be and
appear before said circuit court Of Rock Island
county on the first day Of term thereof. to bt
holden at Rock Island in said county on the drs
Monday Of January, 1888, and plead, answer, ol
demur to the SAID complainaDt's bill Of complaint
the same. and the matt rs and things thereiI
charged and stated, will be taken rs confessed
and decree entered against you according to TIT
prayer OF said bill.
nov aa4w z. H. BOWMAN, Jr., Clerk
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
IN KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE.
How Christmas Day Is Celebrated In
Thns~ Qfufaa

How Christmas Day is Celebrated In
Those States.
Christmas day is not only the most widely
and universally observed holiday in the
Christian calendar, but it is also susceptible
Of a greater variety Of observance than per-
haps any other holiday. Santa Claus and
the Christmas tree are known and loved Of
all children. In Kentucky and other south
ern states the day is ushered in with gum
powder accompaniment. In the north the
Fourth of July is made horrible by the BOOM
ing of cannon and the rattle of firecrackerA
In the south these are reserved for Christ
mas morning. Among the country and vii
lage population Christmas Is the occasion of
general turnout in fields and woods with
guns and dogs. On that day of all days do
the rabbits, squirrels and quail find them
selves pursued by about every man and boy,
both white and colored, who owns or can
borrow an old shotgun, blunderbuss or shoot
ing iron OF any kind, and the fields and
woods resound from morn till night with the
echoes of exploding gunpowder as the hunt
ers stalk up the hapless game. The dogs
lend their quota to the days noise and ex-
citement, baying on, the trail Of frightened
foxes and rabbits T
In Tennessee the wise men who made the
laws in the early days Of the states existence
recognized the merit Of Workmanship, and
to encourage this accomplishment enacted q
law exempting wagers on craftsmanship
from the general penalties against other
species of gambling. So that the men Of a
village or farm community may congregate
and put up money, q quarter of beef or q
turkey, as the prize to be carried off by the
best shot. The target is often the top of q
paper cap box about as large in diameter as
silver quarter, and the distance ranges
from twenty-five to 100 steps. Tie guns
used are long single barrel muzzle loading
| rifles. If the match is to be shot of hand
tresting the gun against the shoulder with
| out q rest the distance is seldom greater
than twenty-five PAGES, and even at that dis
I tance the bullets are often punched from q
dozen rifles into space which can be covered
with silver dollar.
These rifle shooting matches are now
largely reserved for the Christmas day, and
are looked forward to all the year round On
these occasions all the young men who boast
| of their ability to ''eut the bulls eye three
times out Of tiven gather to banter and take
the conceit out Of such as think themselves
| crack shots. r 80
Christmas night is largely given up te
s.fiddlin' and dancin' in the homes of thx
hospitable backwoods southrons, and even II
the towns and villages 1t is a very common
custom TO have o dance on Christmas night
| Hoosac Tunnel is to be lighted b
1,25O incandescent lamps.
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24

little heart had always desired one and the
other by turns. And good, gentle Ruthie!
How her motherly soul had longed for real
dolll Not the old rag doll, but a real one,
with fair hair and blue eyes And this
mother had promised long ago that she
would write a long letter to Santa Claus and
tell him what good little children they were,
and now they would grieve over his neglect.
What should she doa She had nothing to
sell TINT they could by any possibility spare.
Everything had been sold long ago that
could bring anything at all; and now, to add
to her despair, huckster's wagon, loaded
with cheap toys, stopped just in front of her,
and the strong lunged hucksters began cry
ing out their wares Again she quickened
her pace, and went on blindly up the stairs to
her miserable home, all the while her heart
nearly bursting with its agony as memory
pictured this home as it had been only ten
short years ago Yes, on this very anniver-
sary, and she dressed in white satin, with
pearls and beautiful laces, was the envied
beauty of the great ball. Where now were
all those brilliant lights, the flowers, the SER
wants, her sweet faced mother and noble
fatherI
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS THE HAPPlEST.

Among al our holidays Christmas is the
happiest Other days, like the Fourth Of
July and Decoration Day, have patriot-s
association which is inspiring, and New
Years Day has an admonitory significance
which is pathetic. But the tradition of
Christmas is more universal and ideal than
that of other holidays, because it is the feast
of fraternity, of human sympathy and help
fulness Not only is its sentiment glory to
God, but its distinctive gospel is peace on
earth and good will to man. 1t is the one
day in the year on which selfishness is the
most odious sin Its peculiar observance is
obvious, palpable, active thought of others
We all live under the general law of charity
and of doing good. But this is the day on
which we must make sure that our light
shines so that men shall see our good works.
uarI,er's Weekly
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
SHERIFFS SALE.

Byvirtue Of a special Execution and Fee Bill
No 252 issued out OF the clerks Office of the
county court of Rock Island county, and state OF
Illinois, and 10 me directed. whereby | am COM
manded to make the amount of certain judg-
ment recently obtained against Charles Schultz
in favor OF Diedriech Giuesing out of the lands,
tenements goods and chattels Of the said defend
ant, Charles Schultz, have levied upon the fol-
lowing property, to-wit:
That portion OF the south half (if) OF the north
half tIfi Of The southwest qusrter ~ Of the
southwest quarter (lAl Of section five t5l in town
ship 20. Seventeen l7) north Of range one l)
west Of the fourth principal meridian; commenc-
ing at the northwest corner OF said south half (s)
of the mort half (t of the southwest qaarter a.
Of the southwest quarter (la) OF said section;
thence east laral el with t4e north side Of said
section eishty $50 rods more less. to the ast
side Of said southwest quarter * Of the sou; b.
west quarter C4l; thence eouih twenty ts0) rods
to southeast corner Of said sonth half " Of north
1alf ~ Of southwest quarter n Of the sou h.
west quarter tia) Of sain &c. ton; thence west
twenty-six and two-thirds (26a) rods; thence
sWe.ve (12) rods; thence west parsllel with the
north side Of said section ffiy-three snd one
third tdS1s1 rods; thence north eight 49, RODS TO
the plare Of b ginn ne. containing six 81 acree-
all IN Rock Island comfy, state OF Illinois.
Therefore. according to said commsnd. I shall
expose for sale, at public sucIion. all :he right.
title and interest OF the above named Charles
Schultz, in and TO the above described property.
on Tuesday, the 2nth day Of December, 1857. ST :
O'Clock p. m. at the north door Of the court
house in the city Of Rock Island, in the county of
Rock Island and state Of Illinois, for cash in hand
to satisfy said execution and I ee bill.
Dsted al Rock Island, this 7eth dsv Of Novem-
ber, A. D. 1887. 7. S. SILVIS.
Sheriff Of Rock Island county, Illinois.
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
CHRISTMAS IN oLDEN TIME.

Heap On more wood, the wind is chill;
But let ii whistle as II will;
Well keep our Christmas merry still.
And well our Christian sires of old
Loved, when the year its course had rolled,
And brought blithe Christmas back again,
With all its hcspitable train.
Domestic and religious rite
Gave honor to the holy night
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung;
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That on y night In all the gear
Saw the stoied priest the chalice rear.
The damsel donned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry men 70
To gather in the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassal, tenant, serf and all:
Power laid his rod of rule aside,
And Ceremony dotted his pride;
The heir, with roses in his shoes,
That night might village partner choose;
The lord uuderpcating share
The VULGAR game Of post and pair
Ali hail with uncontrolled delight
And general voice the happy night
That to the cottage, Us the crown,
Brought tdings Df salvation down.
Sir Walter Scott
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24

"All right; you shall have some Of our
coffee and sugar and pork. Boys, find the
boats
Such boatsi see the children sailing them
on the small lakes in our Central Park. Some
Yankee, desperately hungry for tobacco, in
vented them for trading with the Johnnies.
They were hid away. under the banks Of the
river for successive relays of pickets.
We got out the boats. An old handkerchief
answered for a sail. We loaded them with
coffee, sugar, pork, and set the sail, and
watched them slowly creep to the other shore.
And the Johnniesl To see them crowd the
bank, and push and scramble to be first to
seize the boats, going into the water, and
stretching out their long armsl Then when
they pulled the boats ashore, and stood in a
group over the cargo, and to hear their ex-
carnations: "Hurrah for hogl' "Say, that's
not roasted rye, but genuine coffee. Smell
it, you uns" "And sugar, too" Then they
divided the consignment. They laughed and
shouted, Reckon you uns been good to we
uns this Christmas Day, Yanks" Then they
put parched corn, tobacco, ripe persimmons,
into the boats, and sent them back to us.
And we chewed the parched corn, smoked
real Virginia leaf, ate persimrnons, which, if
they weren't very filling, at least contracted
our stomachs to the size of our Christmas
dinner. And so the day passed. We shouted,
'Merry Christmas, Johnny They shouted,
''Same to you, Yank." And We forgot the
biting wind, the chilling cold; we forgot
those men over there were our enemies,
whom it might be our duty to shoot before
evening.
We had bridged the river-spanned the
| bloody chasm We were brothers, not foes.
waving salutations of good will in the name
of the Babe OF Bethlehem, on Christmas Day,
in 90. At the very front of the opposing
armies the Christ Child struck truce for us
broke down the wall of partition, became
our peace. We exchanged gifts, We shouted
! greetings back and forth. We kept Christ
mas, and our hearts were lighter for it and
our shivering bodies were not quite so cold.
Go thou and do likewise; push nopoor debtor,
prosecute no quarrel, bear no grudge, at
Christmas time; forgive your enemies, re-
member your mercies and do not brood over
your misfortunes, at Christmas time. If the
times are hard do not let the children know
it, or Lazarus on your doorstep become
aware of it, at Christmas time, to his deeper
despair. Cannot you be cheerful and brave
by your fresides, as we soldiers were on the
4 Rappahannock on Christmas Day in e.,
shouting good wills to rebels on the opposite
shorei Let US all shake hands on Christmas
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
on THE RAPPAHANN0CK.

tL4f.tei Aa> bAi, io'tS-
BY John T. Paxton, Private. Company G, 10th
Pennsylvania Volunteers.
There was rly old comrade, Sergt. Nelson,
who had gathered somewhat of evil in the
army, whosa Christian virtues were not
highly polished. end who, on occasion,
dropped into profanity as Wegg did into
poetry. Now | wonder which Nelson God
will keep, and which Nelson he will throw
away-the rough soldier, or tho man at Cold
Harbor who said, "Boys, do You hear Bebout
and Stone calling our names and begging for
waterT We left them at the foot of the hill
wounded that afternoon when we charged
and were repulsed. Boys, its mighty
risky. There is no truce tonight, and them
rebs shoot about as fine by starlight as by
day. But I'm going out to them. You see,
il you and l were lying over there with hole
through US and we called for water and no
one come, though you heard us, We would
curse you all. Who viii so with met" Il,
sergeant ''And In They went, and two
of them wore killed. l wonder which Nelson
God win keep, which throw away-the Nell
son who was no saint, or the Nelson who
died for man, like Jesus Christi
Iwonder which man is me and which will
come to the front and be on top at Judgment:
this me in the study here, with an open Bible
before him, who fatty contradicts the other
! me, who shivered with cold on the Kappa
hammock twenty-five years ago.
1t is such q funny world! You and load
our friends down with our aches and misfor-
tunes and troubles, but when rich old uncle
/ dies and leaves Us half a million, we do not
! load that on them On, no But here am
/ preaching, 50 strong is habit. Yet which is
me-this gentle, meek, aPologetic clergyman
I or that other me of quarter of century
ago! that other me who wore that faded blue
roundabout hanging on my study wall, witt
lieutenant's shoulder Straps on it, who Wort
that sword and belt there before my eyes
Which is me-tlis man acquainted with
meekness and piety and aims and grief, O.
that me Of the sword and brass buttonea
jacket on the wall, who was acquainted witt
war, deviltlles, death, reckless daring, love-
young dream! Here happy thought strike
me: to try on that soldiers jacket and buckl
on again that sword l am going to get int
that jacket, 50 faded, so small for me now;
am going to buckle on that sword, if
does compel crowding, bad language, rebel
lion, pains, and being carried off the fiel
swoOning, as some ladies are betimes, becaus
of the uproar and rage of the incommode
guests within Well, it happened on this wis
that found myself shiyering on the bank
of the Rappahanock on Christmas Day
1862, enlisted tor three years or during tn
war, food for vilaiueus saltpeter
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24

Nearly all diseases originate from in
action of the liver, and this is especially
the case with chills and fever, intermit-
tent fevers and malarial diseases. To
save doctors bills and ward disease, take
Simmons Liver regulator, medicine
that increases in popularity each year.
and has become the most popular and
best endorsed medicine in the market fol
the cure Of liver or bowel Diseases
TELEGRAPH. DUBUQUE, Iowa.
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24

The snow was falling in great soft fakes
and lay thick upon the pavement, and she
bent before the wind Us she made what haste
she could As she walked along she wondered
for a moment at the holiday aspect of the
street, and then she suddenly remembered,
with great pang, that it was Christmas
Eve, and two sudden tears rolled from her
eyes and trickled slowly down her cold cheeks.
Everybody she met, even in that poor loca-
ton, seemed to have something in their hands
toys, cheap and tawdry, it is true, but still
something to bring joy to child's heart-but
this poor little woman could buy nothing, not
even so much as a bit of candy, for stern
necessity had laid too strong hand upon this
desolate little family for the spending even
Of one penny on anything but food, fuel and
rent Choking back the unruly sobs that
would mount up the little woman at last
reached the butchers shop where she dealt,
when she had anything to buy with, and here
she bought soup bone for ten cents, q car
rot, turnip and two potatoes for five cents,
and then as the fat butchers fatter wife put
them in paper bag she slyly added two rosy
apples from barrel and two big red onions,
and the butcher being busy just then selling
fine turkey to the proprietor of boarding
house did not see it.
For the babbies, ma'am, with my love-
said the jolly woman, ''and l wish it was
more"
Abby Hicks stood a moment irresolute,
with the red spots of shame burning in her
cheeks, for never before had she accepted a
gift, and yet her heart was glad for her
children and lighter for the woraanly sympa-
thy which she felt had actuated this meaqer
gift
Thank you," was all she could trust her
self to say, and she hurried away, and from
there she went to the little corner grocery
where her wants were supplied when accom-
panied by cash. Here she bought five cent
loaf and a pail of coal fG.-
"Nothing else?" asked the grocer's clerk.
ave have some fine turkeys and cranberries:
chickens, too, first rate Philadelphia dry
picked; ;raisins, apples, jellies, celery nothing
at all?'
"No, thank you," said Abby, hurrying
away.
The coal had taken her last cent. She got
out se7lin into the street on her way back
Slxied onward, only anxious to get
ere she could weep her heart out
!. n, where is an agony keener for
u flsprive her children of the
"a " OAsenIlly theirs on Christmas
~ " 49, s2bbiel He would hear
md hwsSs. q owing their tin trum-
sepT 4 ~ - drums. and his sturdy
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
MOTHERS MENAGERIE.
BY OLIVE HARPER

Some sixty years ago Madison street in
New York was one of the most aristocratic
streets in the city, and on both sides it was
built with stately stone mansions, with wide
LIS, immense parlors and large handsome
rooms, and each had garden in the rear
Now the wealthy old Quaker families who
once inhabited them are gone and the whole
street has degenerated until it is known as a
tenement house district and these old
houses are full of ragged, half starved chill
dren; pale, wretched women, and gener-
ally honest but rough class Of men. Every
house has family in every room, where
they eat work and sleep, and even where
there is the most sobriety there is still enough
of noise, unhealthiness and misery. In most
Of them mems drunken curses and women
and children's shrill screams are heard al
most hourly.
In the attic room Of one of the handsomest
Of these old houses there lived widow with
her two children, Ruth and Robert. No
words can,picture the bare desolation Of that
room, but in spite of the bitter poverty so
apparent it was neat and clean. The young
mother YVES born in this house, as had been
her father, and though she now owned
nothing on earth but the wretched furniture
about her, and she could barely pay the rent
of this cherries attic, her heart clung to the
old house and here she staid. Her father had
died suddenly, as had his father before him,
and Abby, his only child, had married man
who was unworthy his trust and in short
time he had dissipated every dollar they
possessed and then had died, mercifully for
his wife and little children.
Abby Hicks had tried to earn G. living since
then, but with delicate health and two help
less babies she could not do much. Like the
great majority of women, she had 10 resource
but her needle, and she found employ in a
shirt factory, and by shaving night and day
as long as her poor little hands could A1 -
work, she managed to keep her childnN ~
herself alive Their clothes were the last Of
those of better days, and were almost falling
off them from sheer age, though the patient
little fingers had patched and darned then
over and over, and her heart sank as sht
wondered where she could get more.
Her grandfather mad been a thrifty old man
and everybody had supposed him rich; but
when he died it was found that this houst
and few thousand dollars which was at in
terest, was all he had, and it was never quite
understood; but no amount of searching il
papers or banks brought to light anything
more and the search was finally dropped
though the question was often discussed.
1t grew too dark to sew and not quite darl
enough to light the lamp, and this hour tht
little mother usually took to run out and dt
her marketing for the next day; and so tell
ing the children to lie still in bed, for it wa
bitterly cold up there so near the roof, sh'
took her threadbare shawl, and throwing i
around her started out.
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24

We will pay the above reward for any
case of liver complaint. dyspepsia, sick
headache. indigestion. constipation or
costiveness we cannot cure with Vests
Vegetable Liver Pills, when the directions
are strictly complied with. They are
purely vegetable, and never fail to give
satisfaction Large boxes containing 30
sugar coated pills. sa5c. For sale by all
druggists. Beware of counterfeits and
limitations. The genuine manufactured
only by John G.. West s Co., S62 W.
Madison ST., Chicago. III.
Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-12-24
CHANCERY NOTICE.
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Rock ISLAND COUNTY,

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
ROCK Island COUNTY,
In the Circuit Court January Term. A. D. 1888.
August Herkert Va, Conrad +. Grsntz, E. h. Gus
fsv Won Doeren and the unknown heirs st law Of
Karl Meyer, deceased-ln Chancery.
Affidavit Of the non-residence OF L. II. Gus sv
Won Doeren, Gottlieh Precht nee kowsiski. Au-
gusta Kowaiski, Friederioh Kowslski Gustav Ko-
walski, Carl Kowalsk. Ferdinand Epwalski. Viii
helm kowalski and Ladwig kowal.ki and the
unknown heirs at law OF Karl Meyer, dec ased,
impleaded with the above defendants having been
filed in the clerks Office Of the circuit court of ssid
county notice is therefore hereby given 10 the said
nonresident defendants th2t the comp sinaut has
fled his bill Of complaint in said court on tho
chancery side thereof. on the 22d day of Novem-
ber 1887, snd thereupon a summons issued out Of
said court, wherein said su is now pending. re-
turnahie on the Il ST Monday in the month Of Jan
uary next Ss is by law required.
Now. unless you, the said non resident defend
ants above named, K. H. Gustav Won poerep,
ski, Frederick kowalski, Gustav k9was ki. Car.
kowalski, Ferdinand Kowslski. Wilhelm KowaI
SKI ond Ludwig kowalski, and he unknown heirs
at lsw OF ksrl Meyer. deceased, shsll per
sonally be and appear before said circuit court
on the first day Of the next term thereof to be
holden at Rock Island. in and for said county, on
the first Monday in January next. and plead, and
swer or demur TO the said complainants bill Of
complaint. the same and the matters and things
therein charged and stated will be taken as CON
fessed, and decree entered against you accord
ing to the prayer ofssd bill.
Rock Island, Ill., November 81. 1881.
Il. H. BOWMAN, JR, Clerk.
JosEPE L. HAAS, Compirs Sol. 22d4v